Featured in Beyond solar – 08-2023

In Conversation: Staying cool in Kenya

Germany’s Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH (SCE) has developed a new solar-powered cooling technology based on a climate-friendly refrigerant. Through its PV Cool Kenya project, it has rolled out the technology to various industries in the agricultural sector, via a business model that aims to empower farmers and entrepreneurs while also training technicians in Kenya and relying on locally sourced materials for manufacturing.

By

Mark Hutchins

25 Jul 2023

Charles Mbarire (right) with his partner and co worker Njeri Kamau inside the cold room, where the herbs are stored to await collection after harvest. | Photos: Solar Cooling Engineering GmbH

In Thika, about 46 km from Nairobi, Charles Mbarire runs Jungle Harvest Ltd, a farm producing herbs for local and export markets. The farm produces basil, mint, rosemary, tarragon and other herbs. Currently it sells the herbs to a local exporter that supplies multiple clients, primarily in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe. In …

Subscribe to get access to this content

Purchase a digital or print subscription to read this article in full. Choose the best subscription for you.